Sick Amazon workers 'threatened with dismissal'

Amazon employees are being threatened with the sack if they take four days off sick, even if they have permission from a doctor, according to a Sunday Times investigation.

The newspaper carried out an undercover probe into Amazon’s sorting depot in Dunfermline, Scotland, and found that workers are given a penalty point every time they are ill. Anyone who gains between four and six points can be dismissed.

One woman was docked two points even though she had been in hospital with a kidney infection and had provided a doctor’s note.

The reporter also found that workers were expected to cover more than 10 miles on shift whilst the water dispensers were empty. In addition she had to sign out of the working time directive, which limits weekly hours to 48.

Amazon has hit the headlines for poor warehouse working conditions before. In 2013 a stress expert said working conditions at Amazon depots could cause “mental and physical illness” after a Panorama reporter took a job as a picker at a warehouse. Over one shift, the reporter had to walk up to 11 miles and collect orders every 33 seconds.

That same year GMB workers union said it was “very concerned” by “robotic” working conditions for staff in Amazon warehouses, whilst in Germany the company was accused of hiring intimidating security staff.

Iain Wright, a Labour MP, has said the party will now investigate the company’s warehouse working conditions in light of the Sunday Times article.

“It is a terrible example of the exploitation and abuse of workers that you have to go in even if you’re sick because if you don’t you’ll get a point,” he said.

Amazon has said it will also investigate the claims, adding that the disciplinary policy outlined in its 35-page handbook for temporary associates was incorrect.